College basketball: Media pick FGCU women to win A-Sun title

Lexey Swall/Staff
Florida Gulf Coast University guard Sarah Hansen (5) goes up for a shot during the first period of the women's quarterfinal basketball game against East Tennessee State at the Atlantic Sun tournament Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. FGCU beat ETSU 79-63.

ESTERO - The Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball team was picked by the media to defend its Atlantic Sun Conference title.

FGCU's men, who were 15-17 but made the A-Sun tournament final last season, were picked third in the media and coaches polls. That's the highest ranking for FGCU in the program's first six A-Sun and Division I years. Last season's fifth-place finish was a program-best.

"We're really excited about the progress we've made over the last year," FGCU second-year men's coach Andy Enfield said. "The guys have worked hard to improve as individuals, but have also come together to build a team."

Mercer, which won a program-record 27 games and the CollegeInsider.com tournament last season, was picked by the coaches and media to win the men's championship. FGCU beat Mercer 62-58 on the Bears' home floor in an A-Sun tourney semifinal last season.

USC Upstate's men were the nod for second place in both polls.

The FGCU women, who are aiming for their third straight regular-season A-Sun title, were an overwhelming choice by the media, which cast 14 first-place votes for the Eagles and five for second-place Stetson. In the coaches poll, Stetson received eight first-place votes to four for FGCU. No other team received a first-place vote in either poll.

FGCU, which returns two starters but lost five of its top six scorers, including all-freshman guard Whitney Knight to a knee injury, went 29-3 last season. The Eagles were 18-0 in A-Sun play and it was just the third unblemished run in the conference's history. The Eagles also won the A-Sun tournament in their first season of eligibility, dominating Stetson 67-39 in the title game. It was FGCU's third win over Stetson last season.

"I think it's a compliment to our program that we can lose as many good players as we did and have so many new faces to finish so high," Eagles coach Karl Smesko said. "I'm not sure how many teams could lose five of their top six scorers and be picked near the top."

Stetson won a school-record 23 games last season and returns its top-three players, all of whom are on the preseason all-conference team. The Hatters were picked by the coaches to win the A-Sun tourney.

"They have everybody back and they have a transfer from Oregon (guard/forward Ashley Buis) who was sitting out and they had a good recruiting class, so it's common sense," Smesko said.

FGCU's Sarah Hansen, a fourth-year junior, and fifth-year senior point guard Brittany Kennedy were picked for the preseason all-conference team. Kennedy, a Spokane, Wash., native who transferred to FGCU after two seasons at Oregon State, was tabbed the preseason defensive player of the year. Kennedy is regarded as the Eagles' "lock-down" guard, and she had 60 steals last season.

"She's an exceptional defensive player and can really dictate some things on the defensive end," Smesko said. "She's a really good point guard, and we're going to be looking for her to be a little more aggressive offensively this season. She's definitely deserving of the preseason all-conference pick."

The 5-foot-10 Hansen was the Eagles' first unanimous first-team all-conference selection last season after averaging a team-high 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. She led FGCU by shooting 52.4 percent from the field, which was 18th nationally, and she was last season's A-Sun tournament MVP.

In a fan poll conducted by the conference, Hansen, of McKean, Pa., was named the preseason player of the year.

Stetson senior guard Victoria McGowan, though, was officially tabbed the preseason player of the year. The reigning A-Sun player of the year, McGowan led the conference in points (563) and assists (4.7 per game) last season. Her three triple-doubles led the nation.

"Well, McGowan was the player of the year and is returning, so you'd expect her to get the preseason nod," Smesko said. "But Sarah's playing as well as I've seen her play in practice, so I expect her to have another great year for us."

Senior guard Sherwood Brown (6-4, 200), was FGCU's lone representative on the men's all-conference team, and no Eagles won preseason awards. The Orlando native was an all-conference second-teamer last season after leading FGCU with 12.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

FGCU's men return all five starters and eight lettermen overall. The Eagles also add 6-9 sophomore forward Eric McKnight, who is eligible after transferring from Iowa State. The Eagles received three of 27 first-place votes in the media poll but none in the 10-person coaches poll.

USC Upstate junior guard Torrey Craig was named the men's preseason player of the year. He was last season's player of the year after leading the conference with 16.4 points per game and ranked second with 7.7 rebounds.

Mercer's Daniel Coursey was tabbed the preseason defensive player of the year, and USC Mario Blessing got that nod from the fans.

The FGCU men open their season at Virginia Commonwealth on Nov. 9, while the women tip theirs off at home against Warner on Nov. 10.

"It should be exciting season, and we are looking forward to getting started," Enfield said.